Still Austin Whiskey Co. Is Throwing a Free Country Fair on Saturday

It’s been a year since Still, the first Austin whiskey distillery to obtain a liquor license since Prohibition, opened its doors. Fortunately for us locavore barflies, Still Austin Whiskey Co. is going strong, and marking the occasion with what sounds like it’ll be one heck of an anniversary party on Saturday, Sept. 29.

To honor their farm to tumbler business model and celebrate the contributions of their organic grain growing partners, the folks at Still have settled on a country fair theme. But unlike the country fair where, as an impressionable youth, your author ate too many fried Oreos and vomited over the side of a Ferris wheel, this one has booze.

Aside from the obvious attractions of whiskey and sunshine, the Still anniversary party takes the country fair concept to the next level, starting with a petting zoo where tipsy attendees can decide a miniature donkey is their new best friend. There will be free sparkling water and classic fair treats like funnel cake, popcorn, and ice cream (Amy’s, of course), as well as birthday cake for all. And because it’s Austin, you know there will be live music (from long-haired acoustic string quartet The Reeling Kind) and on-site poetry composition from poetess Violet Typewriter. San Antonio food truck Mr. Meximum will be making the long drive down the I-35 to sling gourmet tacos, making this bash a delicious multi-city affair.

And it’s educational, too! After the ceremonial cake cutting, there will be a sneak peek screening of Distilling Dreams, the documentary director Laura Creecy has been working on to give us a insider's perspective on the struggles and triumphs Still has experienced throughout their first year of operation. While the event is free and open to all, a percentage of all sales from both the silent auction and anniversary drink specials – like the barrel aged mother pepper old fashioned and festive coke slushies – will benefit the STAR Fund, which assists Texas ranchers, farmers, and agribusiness owners with rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of natural disasters. Getting a taste of this whiskey terroir will help you develop a delicious understanding of the unique challenges of homegrown distilling. And maybe you’ll be inspired to pour some out for that new miniature donkey friend of yours.